Crystal Palace head to Norway for their second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier with Fredrikstad with a slender lead.
Fredrikstad manager Andreas Hagen will hope for an inspired performance from his side in the second leg of the Europa Conference League qualifier against Crystal Palace. The Norwegian side managed to keep their calm in the first leg despite being dominated by the Eagles, which saw them concede 25 shots, with five of those on target.
Despite the home side asserting themselves, Fredrikstad managed to keep the scoreline to a simple 1-0 in the end, which does give them hope heading into the decisive leg. Hagen will aim to put in a performance worthy of ages and get through the round in flying colours, although the Norwegian outfit are still seen as the underdogs in this clash.
Meanwhile, the first leg over at Selhurst Park was dominated by the news of Eberechi Eze’s then impending move to Arsenal as everyone around the club were waiting to see if the playmaker featured. It was not to be, as Crystal Palace fielded a team without Eze, and still got the result.
They also experienced life without the talismanic attacker in the Premier League last weekend and managed to earn a point against an in-form Nottingham Forest. Oliver Glasner has been calling for new faces to come in before the transfer window shuts, and the club will want to get this second-leg qualifier out of the way to focus on what’s ahead of them.
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their four games across all competitions this season, and they will aim for a fifth when they make the trip to Norway. Glasner will now want this tie out of the way and focus on the weekend when they face Aston Villa away from home, with the Eagles the favourites heading into this clash with Fredrikstad.
Team News & Tactics
Fredrikstad
Andreas Hagen might have to make do without goalkeeper Valdemar Birkso, who missed the first leg with an injury and remains a significant doubt for the upcoming clash. Young stopper Martin Borsheim should be the preferred option between the sticks.
Once again, Hagen will prefer to keep a back three in place with Solomon Owusu, Ulrik Fredriksen and Maxwell Woledzi. Meanwhile, Daniel Eid and Stian Molde will feature as the recognised wing-backs for Fredrikstad. In midfield, from right to left, Oskar Ohlenschlaeger, Leonard Owusu, Patrick Metcalfe and Sondre Sorlokk.
Emil Holten will be the man that Hagen will rely on to get something in the final third, especially on home soil, where four of his six goals so far have come. He will have the support of a midfield-four behind, although the burden of getting something in the attack will fall mostly on Holten.
Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Borsheim; Eid, Solomon Owusu, Fredriksen, Woledzi, Molde; Ohlenschlaeger, Leonard Owusu, Metcalfe, Sorlokk; Holten
Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner does not have any fresh concerns with his squad apart from those already ruled out through injury. Eddie Nketiah, Cheick Doucoure, and Chadi Riad are missing from action, while there are considerable doubts over Daichi Kamada.
The Japanese international will be assessed before kick-off, meaning he could travel with the squad to Norway. Meanwhile, Matheus Franca has left the club to join Vasco da Gama on loan this week, so he won’t be available for the remainder of the season for Crystal Palace. Glasner could implement similar changes to his lineup as he did for the first leg.
Borna Sosa could return to the setting in place of Tyrick Mitchell, and could be a regular fixture for the Conference League games moving forward. Jefferson Lerma could once again slot in the backline in place of Chris Richards. Liverpool-linked Marc Guehi is widely expected to feature in the back-three alongside Lerma and Maxence Lacroix.
Daniel Munoz may not have the right cover at the moment, and Glasner would want his best right wing-back option on the pitch, so the Colombian is expected to start. Similarly, Adam Wharton and Will Hughes will start in the central midfield roles, while Justin Devenny will once again feature in the attacking setup. Ismaila Sarr and goalscorer Jean-Philippe Mateta will complete the attacking lineup.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Lerma, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Sosa; Sarr, Devenny; Mateta
Key Stats
- Fredrikstad have only one win in their last six competitive fixtures.
- Fredrikstad have lost their last three games across all competitions.
- Crystal Palace are unbeaten across all competitions this season after four games played.
- Crystal Palace are on an 11-game unbeaten run across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Marc Guehi
The Liverpool-linked defender is either playing in one of his final games for Crystal Palace or at least in his last season for the club. Either way, without the lack of quality options, Oliver Glasner will be forced to play Guehi irrespective of what transpires in the background about his future.
In the context of this second leg qualifier, Guehi is probably the most important man for Palace on the pitch, given the need to keep a tight lid at the back. Glasner will be targeting a big win, although he will focus on keeping a clean sheet more than anything. Hence, Guehi will be key for Crystal Palace at the back, as a defensive performance of top quality is what the Eagles’ fans will crave in this tricky away fixture.
Prediction
Fredrikstad 0-2 Crystal Palace
Fredrikstad may have conceded only once away from home in London in the first leg, but their overall performances showed plenty of cracks. Hagen will still want massive improvements with the defensive side of the game, but heading into the second leg, Glasner would have figured out better ways to score goals against the Norwegian side.
Crystal Palace will be up for this clash, and entering this one as favourites will help their cause. Glasner’s men are expected to take a comfortable win away from home and make their way to the UEFA Europa Conference League finals and give their fans a journey in European football.
